like this

like this — idiom

1. used after a noun to refer to a specific type or category of thing that is being

1.慣用語A2
釋義

used after a noun to refer to a specific type or category of thing that is being shown, mentioned, or thought about at that moment.

例句

Nia had never tasted a chocolate cake like this before.

like [noun] after the noun to mean 'this kind of'

The team needs more people like Wei, who always find creative solutions.

同義詞
  • such

    more formal; requires an article (such a movie, such people)

  • this kind of

    more explicit; placed before the noun (this kind of cake)

  • of this sort

    slightly more formal, less common

反義詞

文法句型

[noun] like this

用法筆記

This sense follows a noun directly (a movie like this, people like this). It can often be rephrased with 'this kind of' + noun (this kind of movie, this kind of people).

常見錯誤

❌I have never seen movie like this.
✅I have never seen a movie like this.
💡When 'like this' follows a singular countable noun, you need a determiner (a, an, the, some) before the noun.
❌I enjoy like this music.
✅I enjoy music like this.
💡'Like this' comes after the noun, not before it.

2. used to show or describe the way something is done, often while physically demon

2.慣用語A2
釋義

used to show or describe the way something is done, often while physically demonstrating the action or pointing to a previous example.

例句

To tie the scarf, move your hands like this and pull gently.

demonstrative use: physically showing an action

Gabriel showed Otis how to hold the guitar pick like this.

同義詞
  • in this way

    more formal; can replace 'like this' in most contexts

  • thus

    very formal; used mainly in writing

  • like so

    informal British English; less common

反義詞

文法句型

verb + [object] + like this

do + like this

用法筆記

This sense is the adverbial use of 'like this' — it answers the question 'how?'. It is most common when the speaker is demonstrating an action physically, but it can also refer back to a way of doing something that was mentioned earlier. Distinguish from sense 1, where 'like this' modifies a noun rather than a verb.

常見錯誤

❌He explained how to do like this.
✅He explained how to do it like this.
💡When 'like this' follows a transitive verb, include an object between the verb and 'like this'.
❌If you do like this, you will succeed.
✅If you do it like this, you will succeed.
💡'Like this' needs a noun or object to modify; it cannot stand alone after the verb.